Meeting Professionals International, Northeastern New York Chapter

President

Name: Adelynne (Addy) Waldie, CMP

Contact Info: 518-376-9213
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Addy is the past Business Council Manager for the Albany-Colonie Regional Chamber of Commerce. Prior to the Albany Chamber, Addy was the manager of golf events for the Saratoga National Golf Club in Saratoga Springs, NY. Saratoga National Golf Club has won many awards since it opened in June of 2001 including prestigious recognition from Golf Magazine and Golf Digest as one of the premier upscale public golf facilities in the Northeast U.S. Her duties at Saratoga National included promotion of the facilities as a meeting and golf event destination as well as the planning and delivery of first-class events and experiences for visiting groups. Previous to her time at Saratoga National Golf Club Addy was the Associate Director for Development with Special Olympics New York. She attended University of Central Florida and graduated from Schenectady County Community College with an A.A.S. in Hospitality & Restaurant Management, were she was selected to participate in the Walt Disney World College Program and the Kentucky Derby – Harry M Steven’s / Aramark Internships.

In addition, Addy is active in several community groups including serving on the Executive Committee for Satins, Silks and Stars Weekend, a benefit for Special Olympic New York.  In her ever-evaporating “free time,” she also volunteers as a religious education teacher at her church.

Addy, her two young sons Noah and Liam along with her husband Ken live in Mechanicville, NY.

President Elect

Name: Debby Goedeke

Contact Info: 518-434-1217 x100
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Debby Goedeke is currently Convention Services Manager of the Albany County Convention & Visitors Bureau (ACCVB) based in Albany, NY. Since 2000 Debby has also worked as a Corporate Sales Manager for the Crowne Plaza Albany hotel and Vice-President of Meetings & Conventions for Empire Meeting Solutions, Guilderland, NY. Debby assists all of her clients by matching up the right “Albany” resource for their sporting tournaments, military reunions, family reunions and conference needs. In addition, Debby and the ACCVB offer attendance-building strategies with pre-event marketing techniques and support services, on-site aid, as well as public and community relations assistance. Debby is originally from the High Peaks region of Keene, NY where her family was in the hospitality industry. In her spare time, Debby enjoys running and participating in marathons and triathlons. Debby and her husband Art live in Delmar with their Yorkshire Terrier Lance.

Immediate Past President

Name: Vanessa LaClair, CMP

Contact Info: 518-436-3749
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Vanessa is the Membership Services & Events Coordinator for the Independent Power Producers of New York, Inc. (IPPNY) and has been with the trade association for over 10 years as their membership services & event coordinator. In March 2007, Vanessa joined MPI and quickly became a very active member of the Northeastern New York chapter. Vanessa has been a communications team committee member, the VP of Communications, and is currently the President of the MPI NENY Chapter.

A nerd at heart, Vanessa is passionate about Social Media and anything to do with being online, marketing and general techy stuff. In 2010, she was asked to be a Social Media Guru as part of MPI’s World Education Congress (WEC), where attendees were to “Act as a spokesperson for social media to the members attending WEC”. In addition to her love of Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn, Vanessa started her own personal website (a work in progress) and tries to blog regularly.

Vanessa currently resides in Slingerlands, NY with her husband, and in her free time enjoys hiking, Zumba, Hula-Fit and wine tasting!

VP Membership

Name: Kelly Abbruzzese

Contact Info: (518) 649-1015
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VP Communications & Marketing

Name: Megan Higgins, CMP

More info about the Communications Committee

VP Education

Name: Tom Daubney

More info about the Education Committee and the CMP Study Group Committee

VP Finance

Name: Tim McCullough

More info about the Finance Committee and the Golf Committee

VP Strategic Development

Name: Linda D'Agostino, CMP

Contact Info: 518-456-5450

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Linda is a sales professional with 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry.  She currently operates a satellite office in Albany as Director of Sales and Government Relations for the Buffalo Convention and Visitors Bureau. Opening this office in 2010 has allowed Linda to work daily with the NYS Association Market to bring more meetings to Buffalo, while enabling her to be a more active member in MPI. She was very happy and honored to be nominated Vice President Strategic Development. Her previous positions include sales manager at the Radisson Hotel and Suites, Director of Sales and Marketing for the Buffalo Niagara Convention Center, and Director of Sales at the Adams Mark Hotel in Buffalo. She studied Travel and Tourism at Niagara University and graduated with a major in Business Management from the University of Buffalo. D’Agostino earned her CMP designation in 1998 and continually partakes in education in the meeting industry . She is a member of NYSAE and serves on its membership committee. She is also a member of ESSAE, where she is currently on the marketing committee, a past board member, and recipient of the Van Guard Award. Linda’s has 17 year old identical twin boys, Nick and Joe. When not working, she keeps busy following them around the country, as they play ice hockey at a very competitive level.
 

Director of Membership Recruitment

Name: Gina Potfora, CMP

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More info about the Membership Committee

Director of Marketing & Advertising

Name: Heather McElhiney, CTIS

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More info about the Communications Committee